Oyo, Imo join forces to rescue 20 abducted corps members

.As NURTW decries insecurity on highways

The Oyo State Government on Sunday disclosed that it was working closely with the Imo State Government and relevant security agencies to secure the safe release of 20 prospective corps members of Oyo State origin abducted in Imo State.

In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, in Ibadan, the state capital, the government said it was maintaining close government-to-government contact with the Imo State Government while also engaging actively with the security apparatus in both Oyo and Imo states.

Oyelade said, “Oyo State is volunteering the templates and experiences it garnered during the Oriire kidnapping incident,” noting that “the report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the abduction, submitted last week by the Hon. Justice (Professor) Mojeed Owoade-led panel, is also useful in the ongoing bilateral discussions.”

Oyelade, in a statement on Sunday, explained that governments did not ordinarily disclose all the measures being taken in delicate security situations, particularly where such disclosures could compromise ongoing operations.

“The focus should indeed be on the Federal Government and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, who are responsible for national security, particularly on the actions taken within the first 72 hours of the incident.”

The commissioner recalled that Governor Seyi Makinde had last week appealed to President Bola Tinubu to expedite action on the abducted 40 Borno students, who were kidnapped on May 15, the same day students and teachers of Esinele and Yawota in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State were abducted.

“The Oyo State Government would continue to work with the Imo State Government, security agencies and other relevant stakeholders towards the safe return of the abducted corps members,” he added.

Meanwhile, the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Osun State Chapter, has raised the alarm over growing security threats along major travel routes across the country following the abduction of prospective National Youth Service Corps members travelling to their orientation camps.

The union called on the Federal Government and security agencies to urgently strengthen security on major highways and intensify efforts to rescue the abducted youths, some of whom were reportedly graduates of institutions in Osun State.

The Acting Chairman of the Osun NURTW, Kazeem Oyewale, popularly known as Asiri Eniba, expressed concern that the incident had heightened anxiety among the victims’ families, friends and the wider community.

In a statement released on Saturday, Oyewale urged the FG, the NYSC, state governments and security agencies to take immediate and decisive measures to address the security challenges confronting travellers nationwide.

He specifically charged security agencies in the area where the abduction occurred to intensify operations aimed at locating the victims and securing their safe and unconditional release.

According to him, all legitimate means must be deployed to protect the lives of the abducted youths and prevent a recurrence of such incidents.

Oyewale said, “This incident should serve as a wake-up call to all relevant authorities that the security of our highways can no longer be treated with levity.

“Travellers, particularly young Nigerians embarking on journeys for national service, education or employment, should be able to move from one part of the country to another without fear of being kidnapped.”

The NURTW boss also appealed to the parents and relatives of the victims to remain calm and prayerful, expressing confidence that the government and security agencies would secure their safe return.

Oyewale urged students, youths, prospective and serving corps members to remain security-conscious while travelling, avoid suspicious or unnecessarily risky journeys and promptly report suspicious movements or security breaches to the relevant authorities.

He said, “We appeal to the families of the affected prospective corps members not to lose hope. We believe that the security agencies are doing everything possible to rescue them and reunite them with their loved ones.”

He equally called on transport operators and drivers to remain vigilant, strengthen communication among themselves and prioritise the safety of their passengers, particularly on routes considered vulnerable to attacks and abductions.

“Drivers must remain extremely vigilant, especially when travelling through isolated areas. Any suspicious movement or unusual activity should be reported immediately to the appropriate security authorities,” he stated.

The state union’s acting chairman further urged the government to strengthen security along major highways and safeguard the lives and livelihoods of drivers and other members of the transport community.

He said, “The safety of passengers and transport workers must be given priority. Security personnel should increase their presence on vulnerable routes and ensure that travellers are adequately protected.”

Oyewale reiterated the commitment of the state’s national transport union to promoting safe transportation and protecting passengers, saying, “All lives matter, and every effort must be made to ensure that passengers and transport workers can travel safely across the country.”

The security agencies have delayed an immediate advance on the suspected hideout of kidnappers holding the prospective NYSC members in Imo State after intelligence indicated that the camp had been mined with improvised explosive devices.

The Imo State Commissioner of Police, Audu Bosso, disclosed on Saturday that operatives had located the suspected camp where the victims were being held but could not immediately move in because of the IED threat.

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